Sanga-less SL provides Pak best chance to seal Test series

KANDY: For the first time in 15 years Sri-Lanka will play a Test match without Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardne, the decider for the three match Test series against Pakistan at Pallakele.

Last weekend the 37 year-old Sangakkara announced that he will retire from Test cricket after playing two Test matches against India, while Jayawardne has already retired from Test format of the game last year.

Sangakkara was only available to play two Test matches of three match Test series against Pakistan, Greenshirts have won the first Test match by 10 wickets at Galle and the second Test match was won by Sri-Lanka by seven wickets at Colombo. Currently the series is tied with 1-1, now both the teams will play the decider at Pallakele.

Pakistan’s Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq said that this is the best chance to win their first ever Test series on Sri-Lankan soil after nine years when their key players like Sanga and Mahela are not playing.

Both Sanga and Mahela have scored 24,000 Test runs between them, Sri-Lanka’s vice-captain Lahiru Thirimanne said that it will be a bit difficult to play without those two. But he believes that Upul Tharanga is a good replacement for Sanga, as he has a good Test experience.

So far the series has been interrupted by rain on both occasions at Galle and Colombo, it is predicted that the rain will also effect the third Test at Pallekele three Test matches are played at the venue and all of three ended as draw.